Saturday, December 23, 2006

Far from Home, Close in Heart

Steve's dad, Frank, is in Iraq for the third time. He works as an employee of the federal government, working with the military, and his job is to troubleshoot mechanical problems on the equipment. He's on a base in Baghdad.

He calls Steve when he can, and he's reported that they are experiencing almost constant mortaring, much more than he heard on his previous trips. Yesterday, he called Steve and told him they were under heavy ground fire. He said they knocked out communications on the base for a long while and that two GI's were hit with mortar rounds on the base today but are still alive. He said they keep having black outs on the base to avoid being targeted during the night hours.

I know there are thousands of families like us that are riveted to the television when news of the Iraq war is played. It seems even more difficult to be separated by the war during Christmas.

Friday, December 22, 2006

It's Friday!

It's so nicely quiet here at the office. That is, except for the kids who were brought to work since daycare is closed. :-)

One of our newer employees made the comment the other day that we've had more holiday parties/lunches/happy hours than every place he's ever worked added together! (He's young, so he probably hasn't worked many places, but still...) Everyone is in a festive mood, even though the weather has been unseasonably warm. And we work so hard during the year, it's a good time to show our appreciation for their great work.

Our new building has some new features, some good and some that just take getting used to. Most of the windows on my floor face West, and the Texas sunsets have been spectacular to view. We have a parking garage, which I like as protection against spring hail storms and shade in the hot summer, and you have to have a security card to open the doors to the elevator and into our suite. One tricky thing is the bathrooms are located outside our suite, so you have to remember to take your card with you to get back in!

Janet, my BF, and her daughter Annie, my goddaughter, are coming up today to see my new digs and then we're all going to lunch. Annie just had all four wisdom teeth out, and she's milking the sympathy! (She's doing well and has good painkillers.)

Wednesday, December 20, 2006

Travel Hell

I left the office Monday night and headed to the airport, as I was scheduled for a 7:30 flight to Cincinnati.

After a lovely (?) meal at the airport, they made an announcement that the plane was delayed 3 hours. It would now be arriving in Cinci at 2 a.m.! I decided to take a flight in the morning instead and have a nice sleep in my own bed. The only catch was I didn't get my checked luggage back. It went on to Cinci with all my toiletries and my special pillow. (I have a bad neck, and my pillow makes a huge difference in my comfort. This was the first time I decided to take it on a trip with me. Oh well!)

I stopped by the grocery store on the way home and picked up some make-do make-up. Steve was happy to have me home, even though I did have to get up early the next morning for another flight.

Since I had packed my black suit, I decided to wear my brown one. That is, until I clumsily splattered small droplets of the make-up I had just bought on the pants. Argh...it wasn't coming out, so I wore my last available suit.

Got to the airport on time, checked the monitors, and guess what? FLIGHT CANCELLED due to mechanical failure. Oh, geez.

I was able to catch a flight to Dayton, which is where I needed to end up that afternoon anyway. (I had a meeting in Cinci in the morning and was driving down with a colleague from there to a pitch in Dayton. I obviously missed the morning meeting, but I did finally make it to the pitch!)

The pitch was in the smallest, warmest conference room ever. There were 12 people crammed around a table, and the heat was almost unbearable. Our presentation was good, but the main decision maker was doing the slow blinks of sleepiness.

And, not to be outdone, our returning flight was delayed an hour. I finally got back to Dallas and found my luggage, which had travelled its own path to Cinci and back without me, and climbed into bed at 11 p.m.

Monday, December 18, 2006

Draggin'

Can you believe Christmas is just a week away?

It sure doesn't feel like it in Dallas. It's been 75-80* here! Crazy. My new office, on the other hand, is as cold as a meat locker. I'm hoping we can get that adjusted to something more normal once all the construction is complete.

Steve and I were pretty sedate this past weekend. Steve is recovering from a cold, and I must be fighting it off because my energy has been really low. We did get our Christmas shopping complete. Steve's list sure is a lot simpler than mine: his kids and me. We also picked out frames for his new glasses. We were suprised to realize he had gotten his prescription in October. How time flies! (I'll post a picture of him with his new specs once he gets them home. He says he can turn in his walking stick now.)

We are sending out cards. We finally picked out a picture and are getting them created. They are supposed to be ready tomorrow or Wednesday. I hope they get to England on time!

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

New Digs

Well, I almost got choked up leaving the office yesterday for the last time. Since joining the company 6 and a half years ago, I had a lot of memories in that building. I've grown a lot, too.

The drive took me an hour and 15 minutes as expected. I now have an OFFICE with a WINDOW. Although the window overlooks a concrete courtyard, if you lean over, you can see trees. Most everyone is happy and excited about the new digs, and people are busy milling around, finding where others are sitting and eating the breakfast our owners set out for us.

Plus, we have a parking garage, and they're building a gym in the building that we will have free access to. Not bad!

Monday, December 11, 2006

Long time no post

Yes, I'm still alive. [in response to Stephanie's call]

I've just been busy with all the changes going on here (mostly work-related) and didn't think you'd want to read another post about my busy work!

We are moving offices, to a new building across town. We have completely outgrown our current facilities, and because we are adding another 24 or so new employees before the end of the year, we MUST move now to accommodate them. We have no additional space in this building or in the parking lot, which has become quite competitive just to get a space.

I'm in the first of three waves of the move, and my stuff will be relocated on Tuesday night. I've packed up the majority of my things, but I still have more to do today.

I'm excited about the new space and about the fact that I get a window office, but the new location is so much further from my home. I'm estimating on a good day, it will take me 75 minutes to drive there.

So, Steve and I continue to work on the house and hope to move closer into town. We nearly killed ourselves this weekend with yard and pool work, and we met with realtors Saturday afternoon. We are hoping to get from them a condensed list of what needs to be done to sell as well as a market analysis and estimated sale price.

When I think about that drive, I'm ready to move now.

Monday, December 04, 2006

Gettin' Lovins in Houston

Posting from Houston, where I arrived last night. My bro-in-law Al, my mom and the twins came to pick me up. Paige and Graham kept saying "Auntie Emily! Auntie Emily!" in a singsong voice. It was great. I got BIG hugs and whopper kisses, too.

Today, we helped Steph decorate the outside of her house. She is SERIOUS about her decorations! Every year, she finds new additions after the season (on sale). She has three gingerbread houses with six gingerbread kids, two snowmen, two lighted garlands, a blow-up snow globe and a blow-up penguins with candy canes. Then there are wreaths and additional lights sprinkled throughout the front yard.

Steph is still recuperating from last week's hospital stay, but she is in good spirits. Tomorrow, more family is coming in to join in her annual Christmas Tea, ladies only. Should be fun!